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Section 30

Know well that this is what the god commands. And I believe there has never been a greater blessing for the city than my service to the god. For I do nothing but go about persuading you, both young and old, not to care for your bodies or your money as intensely as you care for making your soul as good as possible. I tell you that virtue does not come from money, but that from virtue comes money and all other good things for men, both privately and publicly. If by saying these things I corrupt the youth, then these teachings must be harmful. But if anyone says I say anything other than this, he is talking nonsense. Therefore I say to you, men of Athens: obey Anytus or not, acquit me or not, knowing that I will not change my conduct, not even if I am to die many times over. Do not make a disturbance, men of Athens, but abide by my request not to cry out at what I say, but to listen. I think you will benefit from listening. I am going to say something else to you at which you might cry out; but please do not do so. Know well that if you put me to death, being the kind of man I say I am, you will not harm me more than you harm yourselves. Meletus or Anytus could not harm me; it is impossible, for I do not think it is permitted for a better man to be harmed by a worse one. He might kill me, or banish me, or disenfranchise me, and he and others may think these are great evils. But I do not think so. It is a much greater evil to do what he is doing now: attempting to kill a man unjustly. Therefore, men of Athens, I am far from making a defense for my own sake, as one might think. I am defending you, so that you do not err concerning the god's gift to you by condemning me. For if you kill me, you will not easily find another like me. I have been literally attached to the city by the god—if it is not too ridiculous to say—as upon a great and noble horse which is rather sluggish because of its size and needs to be awakened by a gadfly. I believe the god has attached me to the city as just such a gadfly, awakening, persuading, and reproaching each one of you, never stopping all day long, settling everywhere upon you. Another like me will not easily come to you, gentlemen, and if you listen to me, you will spare me. But perhaps you may become annoyed, like people awakened from sleep, and slapping me as Anytus advises, you might easily kill me. Then you would sleep for the rest of your lives, unless the god, caring for you, sends you someone else.